Going into Avowed, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Obsidian’s track record—from Pillars of Eternity to Fallout: New Vegas—set high expectations, but this game aimed for something different. A first-person RPG in the Pillars of Eternity universe, with a structured world and action-focused combat? That sounded like a mix of The Outer Worlds and Skyrim, but with a more defined scope.
Within the first hour, it was clear that Avowed blends deep role-playing mechanics with a faster-paced, more accessible design. Eora comes to life in a way that feels both familiar and new, offering player choice, strong storytelling, and action-driven combat. It doesn’t try to be a massive open-world experience, but instead delivers a well-structured RPG filled with meaningful decisions and rewarding exploration.
But how well does Avowed balance classic RPG depth—rich storytelling, impactful choices, and character progression—with a modern, streamlined approach? Let’s find out.
A Journey Through the Living Lands
Avowed puts you in the role of an Aedyran envoy sent to the Living Lands, a wild region suffering from a strange sickness. The Dreamscourge spreads across the land, warping nature and driving people to madness. As an outsider, you’re met with distrust, torn between the Empire’s control and those fighting to stay independent.
Your character, a Godlike, carries a visible mark of divine influence, making you stand out even more. Unlike others, you don’t know which god has shaped you, and an unknown voice speaks inside your head. This mystery draws you deeper into the Living Lands’ struggles and the search for your own origins.
Companions play a major role in the story, each with personal reasons for joining you. Kai, an experienced warrior, guides you through the region’s conflicts, while Marius carries secrets from his past. Conversations feel natural, with companions reacting to your choices and each other, making interactions more dynamic.
From the start, Avowed makes it clear that choices have lasting consequences. Conversations often give you multiple ways to handle a situation, with dialogue options influenced by your character’s background and skills. One early encounter forced me to decide whether to help a desperate villager or walk away. It seemed minor at first, but that choice resurfaced later, affecting alliances in ways I didn’t expect. The story constantly reinforces that even small actions can have ripple effects, making each decision feel significant.
The Living Lands are full of mysteries, from ancient ruins to hidden factions. The writing captures both grand conflicts and personal stakes, ensuring your choices carry real weight.
Battles, Exploration, and Choices
Avowed gives you plenty of ways to approach combat, exploration, and character progression. You can choose weapons, spells, and abilities that fit your playstyle while making choices that shape the world around you. Melee weapons, ranged attacks, and magic all feel distinct, letting you mix different styles to suit your character. You can quickly switch between weapons and abilities to handle different fights. Whether you rely on strength, magic, or a mix of both, the game lets you adapt to different playstyles.
Early on, I was ambushed by a group of raiders. I blocked an attack with my shield, then countered with a heavy strike, knocking them back. Another enemy moved in, so I dodged and switched to my wand, firing magic blasts. As more enemies approached, I used an area spell to slow them down, buying time to take out the leader. The battle was fast but required strategy, making me balance my abilities and positioning carefully.
The game features both open areas to explore at your own pace and structured locations with focused objectives. The Living Lands are filled with hidden ruins, side quests, and secrets. Unlike massive open-world RPGs, Avowed takes a more structured approach, filling areas with meaningful content. Fast travel points help reduce backtracking. Some areas have puzzles or require special abilities, rewarding those who take time to explore.
Character progression lets you shape your playstyle through skills, abilities, and equipment. The classless system means you can mix melee, ranged, and magic freely, adjusting your approach based on enemy types and combat situations. Unlocking new abilities feels meaningful, giving you tools that change how you approach combat and exploration. Dialogue choices also play a role in shaping your experience, with background traits influencing how characters react to you and which options are available in key moments.
Avowed keeps the action enjoyable while ensuring that every choice—whether in combat, exploration, or dialogue—has a meaningful impact.
A World of Magic and Mystery
Avowed’s strong visual design creates a cohesive world, with detailed environments, unique characters, and magical elements that fit well together.The Living Lands feature a range of environments, from forests to wastelands, each with its own unique atmosphere. Lighting and environmental effects add to the sense of place, though some textures and objects look less detailed up close. Character models are expressive, with good facial animations. However, some NPC movements feel stiff.
Combat animations feel weighty, making each attack, spell, and block satisfying to use. Spells look fantastic, with effects that give magic feel powerful and impactful. Enemies vary from humanoid groups to larger creatures, each with unique movements and attacks in battle.
The soundtrack mixes fantasy music with atmospheric themes, fitting perfectly with exploration and key story moments. The music changes during combat, adding excitement without distracting from the action. The voice acting is solid, especially for the main characters. Kai’s voice really stands out, making him feel like a true guide. Some minor NPCs don’t sound as convincing, but overall, the voice direction keeps the conversations interesting.
Performance is generally stable, with smooth frame rates, though there are occasional long load times, especially when transitioning between areas. Some graphical issues, like shadow flickering and minor pop-in, can also be noticeable in certain regions. These issues aren’t major, but they can disrupt the flow of the game.
Avowed does a great job bringing its world to life with solid art, immersive sound, and smooth performance. While there are some visual hiccups, the world still feels alive and worth exploring.
Avowed is a Beautiful, Engaging RPG with Room for Growth
Avowed offers a solid mix of classic RPG elements and modern accessibility, creating an enjoyable experience. The world of Eora feels alive, with the Living Lands providing plenty of variety and secrets to uncover. There’s always something new just around the corner.
Combat is smooth and satisfying, letting you quickly switch between weapons, spells, and abilities. The ability to experiment with different playstyles keeps things fresh and rewarding. Some boss fights feel a bit lacking, but the variety in other combat encounters ensures there’s always a challenge.
The writing and character interactions are strong, especially with companions like Kai, whose guidance feels natural. Choices matter throughout the game—whether in conversation, combat, or exploration. Every decision impacts the world around you, making your journey feel more meaningful.
Visually, Avowed creates a cohesive world with solid art direction. Some minor graphical issues and occasional load times hold it back from being fully polished, but the world is still beautiful and filled with life, making it easy to get lost in its many mysteries.
For RPG fans, Avowed strikes a great balance between open-world exploration and focused storytelling. While there are a few rough edges, its world-building, character depth, and satisfying combat make it a worthwhile experience. If you’re looking for an adventure full of meaningful choices and exploration, Avowed is definitely worth your time.
Avowed
Summary
Avowed blends traditional RPG elements with modern accessibility, offering satisfying combat, meaningful choices, and rewarding exploration. Set in the world of Eora, the game delivers a well-designed experience with a focus on character-driven storytelling. Some boss fights feel underwhelming, and minor graphical hiccups and load times hold it back from perfection, but the immersive world and dynamic gameplay make it a worthwhile adventure for RPG fans.
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